Rockstar Games prequel to their 2010 masterpiece gives a beautifully realised take on a truly ugly period of history…
Following of from Grand Theft Auto 5, often hailed as one of the greatest games of the Modern Era was no simple task for Rockstar Games. Red Dead Redemption 2 is far more than simply “Grand Theft Horse”, giving us a truly gripping tale of loyalty, conviction and the hefty price of notorious ideals in a changing world. Meticulously detailed through the lens of Rockstar’s most expansive, polished open world to date.
It’s 1899 on the American Frontier and the jaws of a more civilised society are closing in on the Wild West era. We follow the tales of outlaw Arthur Morgan and the Van Der Linde gang as they attempt to lie, steal and slaughter their way across the American heartland. Through the roughly 60-hour long campaign you really feel the struggle of this gang, attempting to maintain their lawless ideals of freedom as the world changes around them. Your interactions with fellow gang members, as they face internal divisions and moral struggles gives the game a real heart despite the horrors of the world they inhabit.
The masterfully crafted open world is a spectacle with an undying awe factor. There is an expansive variety of environment from swamp districts, to snowy mountains and of course the return of towns such a Blackwater from the original. Rockstar manages to capture the vast emptiness of the American Frontier, whilst maintaining the sense that it is a sprawling, lived-in world. Random interactions with strangers give the game some of its most interesting and at times even humorous moments. Side activities are of the plentiful; mini-games such as poker and five finger fillet make a return, and bounties have a greater sense of personality, with specialised cut scenes giving every interaction a unique feel and story to them.
The world is so immersive that often you will forget that much of the gameplay is just you riding a horse between objectives for hours on end. Towards the end of the game it does become tedious, however, the lack of a fast travel mechanic means that often you will ride across the map to a mission, simply to have to ride to another objective.
Perhaps the greatest criticism you could levy towards Red Dead Redemption 2 is that it is not a casual gaming experience. The world is immersive down to the most minute details. You will have to ensure that Arthur is fed, has slept and is clean. You will have to ensure that your horse is brushed, and you have hunted enough food for your camp. The realism may deter some gamers; initially, the game can feel sluggish and the 180 degrees flip your horse may do when you ride over a boulder that is slightly too large certainly frustrated me.
However, after allowing myself to be engulfed in the world I grew to appreciate the slick, smooth mechanics of the game and the levels of immersive gameplay on display make this the ultimate Wild West simulation.
With 17 million copies sold in just the first week, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a hype train worthy of hijacking. Immediately this has become the standard that future open-world titles will be measured against. “Grand Theft Horse” is a class above the rest and stands as one of the greatest games of the modern era.
By Adam Ridgley